Molded pulp carton with latch post closure



E. M. ALSMAN MOLDED PULP CARTON WITH LATCH POST CLOSURE Nov. 16, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 30, 1963 E u enet VI. Hlsrnan INVENTOR.

Nov. 16, 19.65 E. M. ALSMAN 3,217,9'63

MOLDED PULP CARTON WITH LATCH POST CLOSURE Filed Sept. 50, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 E u qeneM.AT1smcn INVENTOR.

cellular.

United States Patent Ofiice 3,217,963 Patented Nov. 16, 1965 3,217,963 MOLDED PULP CARTON WITH LATCH POST CLOSURE Eugene M. Alsman, Portland, Oreg, assignor to Molded Container Corporation, Portland, Oreg., a corporation of Oregon Filed Sept. 30, 1963, Ser. No. 312,520 3 Claims. (Cl. 229--2;5)

This invention relates to a molded pulp carton having a cover section releasably latched to a bottom section through the agency of integral latching posts.

It is the general object of the present invention to provide a molded pulp carton which is easy and inexpensive to mold, which is nestable when empty, which has a cover section which may be positively but releasably snaplocked to a bottom section without the inclusion of a cumbersome locking flap, and which is easy to open and close.

It is a particular object of the invention to provide a molded pulp egg carton in which a top section is connected to a cellular bottom section through an integral hinge or, in the alternative, in which the top section is completely separable from the bottom section and is made of an alternate structural material such as clear plastic.

In the drawings:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views of the herein described molded pulp carton in the embodiment in which the cover section is connected to the bottom section through an integral hinge, FIG. 1 illustrating the carton in its open position and FIG. 2 in its closed position, respectively;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are fragmentary, sectional views, taken along lines 33 and 4-4 of FIGS. 1 and 2 and illustrating the operation of the latch post closure of the carton;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of an alternate form of the carton wherein the top section is completely separable from a molded pulp bottom section and is made of clear plastic or alternate structural material; and

FIGS. 6 and 7 are transverse sectional views taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5 and illustrating the manner of closing and opening the carton of FIG. 5.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4, the carton of my invention comprises a bottom section, indicated generally at 10, and a cover section, indicated generally at 12, interconnected through an integral hinge 13. The entire carton may be molded in its opened out position in a single piece, using pulp molding dies and apparatus familiar to the pulp molding art.

The bottom section 10 is cellular, being comprised of a plurality of cupped cells 14 arranged in a desired pattern of alignment. Although not restricted thereto, the carton of the invention is particularly well suited to the configuration wherein there are present two rows of six 'cells each, i.e., to the configuration of the familiar 2 x 6 egg carton.

The arrangement of the bottom section is such that its general outline is rectangular, with the front wall, back wall, and end walls diverging outwardly and terminating in a peripheral flange 16.

The cover section 12 of the carton preferably is non- Like the bottom section, it is generally rectangular in outline and provided with front, back and end walls diverging outwardly and terminating in a pcripheral flange 18 which, in the closed position of the carton, meets and abuts against flange 16 of the bottom section.

Latching units are present for releasably latching the cover section to the bottom section. Each unit comprises an integral, resiliently deflectable, latch post or tongue and a cooperating latch keeper, or opening, one being on the front wall of the bottom section and the other being on the front wall of the cover section. In a 2 X6 egg carton there preferably are two latch units with the latch posts extending upwardly from the bottom section and the cooperating latch keepers being located in the front wall of the cover section.

Thus, as is shown in FIGS. 14, there may be present two latching posts 20, each being placed at a joint between adjacent cell sections in order to locate the post inwardly with reference to the front margin of the carton, as required for side by side storage and packing of the cartons in larger receptacles.

Each post 20 has sloping rearward walls 21 formed as substantial lineal extensions of the side walls of two adjacent cells 14. The arcuate front wall 22 of each post is downwardly tapered to provide a guide or cam surface for the cover. Also, it is relieved or notched, to provide a latching edge surface 23.

The front wall of cover section 12 is provided with cooperating latch openings 24. These are spaced upwardly from the cover edges and are located in vertical alignment with the latch posts. They are dimensioned to receive the latter in latching engagement with the resiliently deflectable, structural strips 26 immediately below the openings, entering the relieved or notched portions of posts 20.

The manner of operation of the latch is clear from a consideration of FIGS. 3 and 4.

When the cover section is moved in the direction of the bottom section, it traverses the outer, tapered guiding surfaces 22 of the latching posts. Thereupon a resilient deformation of the molded pulp structural material of the carton occurs to permit the posts to move inwardly and the material of the cover section to move outwardly sufliciently to permit the snap lock entry of the posts into openings 24.

The cover section remains securely latched to the bottom section until it is desired to open it. Thereupon finger pressure on the outer surfaces of posts 20 moves them inwardly sufliciently so that the cover will clear them, whereupon the carton easily may be opened.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 5-7 inclusive, the same latching principle is employed. However, the cover is completely separable and may be made of a different structural material, for example, of clear plastic. This feature is of merchandising value in displaying the contents of the carton.

The carton of FIGS. 5-7, like the car-ton of FIGS. 1-4, includes a bottom section 30 anda cover section 32.

The bottom section is comprised of a plurality of cells 34 arranged in rows to provide a generally rectangular overall configuration. The front, back and end side walls are outwardly divergent and terminate in a pcripheral flange 36.

The cover section 32 is completely separate from the bottom section. It is generally rectangular in configuration to register with the bottom section. It is provided with outwardly diverging front, back .and end walls bounded by a peripheral flange 38 which meets and bears against flange 36 of the lower section.

Like the previously described embodiment, the lower section is provided with latching posts 40. However, such posts are present on both the front and back walls of the lower section. They serve the dual functions of releasably latching the cover section to the bottom section, and of hinging the former temporarily to the latter, if a hinged connection is desired.

In the illustrated form of the invention, there are four such posts 40, arranged in spaced pairs along the front and back side walls. Each post is located at the juncture between adjacent pairs of cells, their inner walls 41 being substantially linear extensions of the cell walls. The arcuate outside walls 42 of the posts are sloped downwardly to provide guiding or camming surfaces for the cover.

The outside, lower margins of the posts are relieved or cut away to provide latching edges 43 which correspond to latching edges 23 of the carton of FIGS. l4.

Cooperating with latch post 40 are latch keeper openings 44, located at horizontal intervals in the front and back walls of carton cover 32, and spaced upwardly from the cover edge. The latch openings register with the latch posts and are dimensioned to receive them when the carton is closed, with the webs 46 entering the relieved portion of the posts.

During such closure, the carton cover section is moved downwardly in the direction of the arrows of FIG. 6. Thereupon the resiliently deflectable front and rear side walls of the. cover section slide over sloping guide surfaces 42 of the resiliently deflectable latch posts 40 of the bottom section until the latch posts seat in openings 44 with latching surfaces 43 of the former engaging the lower edges of latch openings 44.

The cover thus is secured releasably to the bottom of the carton during use and storage. When it is desired to open the carton, it merely is necessary to press inwardly on the outer, exposed surfaces of the latch posts, whereupon the cover may be lifted upwardly and removed.

It is a particular feature of the invention that where it is desired to open the carton temporarily and then to reclose it, the latches on one side only may be released. Thereupon the action illustrated in FIG. 7 occurs, the carton cover being retained in the hand and hinging open to the dotted line positions of FIG. 7. The desired numbered of units then may be removed from the carton and the cover snap-locked to its closed position.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herein shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A molded pulp egg carton comprising:

(a) bottom and cover sections provided with meeting peripheral edges,

(b) the bottom and cover sections each having front,

back and end walls,

(c) the bottom section including a plurality of spaced transverse walls interconnecting the front, back and end walls of the bottom section and defining transverse rows of cupped egg cells,

(cl) at least one latch post projecting upwardly from the plane of the peripheral edge of the bottom section,

(e) the latch post having an inner wall formed as an integral, substantially rigid upward extension of one of the cell walls,

(f) the latch post also having an outer wall tapered downward and outward and terminating at its lower end above the peripheral edge of the bottom section with said lower end positioned to extend outward of the front wall of the cover section when the latter is closed over. the bottom section,

(g) the front wall of the cover section being resiliently defiectable and provided with a latch keeper opening aligned with the outer wall of each latch post, the bottom edge of said opening being spaced upwardly from the peripheral edge of the cover section a distance not exceeding the vertical distance between the lower end of the outer wall of the latch post and the peripheral edge of the bottom section,

(h) whereby upon closing the cover section over the bottom section the portion of the cover section below the latch keeper opening engages under the lower end of the outer wall of the latch post.

2. A molded pulp egg carton comprising:

(a) bottom and cover sections provided with meeting peripheral edges,

(b) the bottom and cover sections each having front,

back and end walls,

(0) the bottom section including a plurality of spaced transverse walls interconnecting the front, back and end walls of the bottom section and defining transverse rows of cupped egg cells, the transverse walls defining adjacent cells diverging outwardly to the connected wall of the bottom section, and

(d) at least one latch post projecting upwardly from the plane of the peripheral edge of the bottom section,

(e) the latch post having an inner wall of connected, diverging sections formed as integral, substantially rigid upward extensions of said diverging portions of the transverse walls defining a pair of adjacent cells,

(f) the latch post also having an outer wall tapered downward and outward and terminating at its lower end above the peripheral edge of the bottom section with said lower end positioned to extend outward of the front wall of the cover section when the latter is closed over the bottom section,

(g) the front wall of the cover section being resiliently deflectable and provided with a latch keeper opening aligned with the outer wall of each latch post, the bottom edge of said opening being spaced upwardly from the peripheral edge of the cover section a distance not exceeding the vertical distance between the lower end of the outer wall of the latch post and the peripheral edge of the bottom section,

(h) whereby upon closing the cover section over the bottom section the portion of the cover section below the latch keeper opening engages under the lower end of the outer wall of the latch post.

3. A molded pulp egg carton comprising:

(a) bottom and cover sections provided with meeting peripheral edges,

(b) the cover section having front, back and end walls,

(0) the bottom section having front, back and end walls of interconnected arcuate segments,

(d) the bottom section including a plurality of spaced transverse walls interconnecting the front, back and end walls of the bottom section and defining transverse rows of cupped egg cells, the transverse walls defining adjacent cells diverging outwardly to the corresponding arcuate segments of the connected wall of the bottom section, and

(e) at least one latch post projecting upwardly from the plane of the peripheral edge of the bottom section,

(f) the latch post having an inner wall of connected, diverging sections formed as integral, substantially rigid upward extensions of said diverging portions of the transverse walls defining a pair of adjacent cells,

(g) the latch post also having an outer wall tapered downward and outward and terminating at its lower end above the peripheral edge of the bottom section with said lower end positioned to extend outward of the front wall of the cover section when the latter is closed over the bottom section,

(h) the front wall of the cover section being resiliently deflectable and provided with a latch keeper opening aligned with the outer wall of each latch post, the bottom edge of said opening being spaced upwardly from the peripheral edge of the cover section a distance not exceeding the vertical distance between the lower end of the outer wall of the latch post and the peripheral edge of the bottom section,

(i) whereby upon closing the cover section over the bottom section the portion of the cover section below the latch keeper engages under the lower end of the outer wall of the latch post.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Gibbons 229-45 X Friday 2292.5 Treida 229-29 X Reifers 229--2.5 Reifers 229-25 Cox 229-25 Alsrnan 229-2.5

Belgium.

FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner. 

1. MOLDED PULP EGG CARTON COMPRISING: (A) BOTTOM AND COVER SECTIONS PROVIDED WITH MEETING PERIPHERAL EDGES, (B) THE BOTTOM AND COVER SECTIONS EACH HAVING FRONT, BACK AND END WALLS, (C) THE BOTTOM SECTION INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF SPACED TRANSVERSE WALLS INTERCONNECTING THE FRONT, BACK AND END WALLS OF THE BOTTOM SECTION AND DEFINING TRANSVERSE ROWS OF CUPPED EGG CELLS, (D) AT LEAST ONE LATCH POST PROJECTING UPWARDLY FROM THE PLANE OF THE PERIPHERAL EDGE OF THE BOTTOM SECTION, (E) THE LATCH POST HAVING AN INNER WALL FORMED AS AN INTEGRAL, SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID UPWARD EXTENSION OF ONE OF THE CELL WALLS, (F) THE LATCH POST ALSO HAVING AN OUTER WALL TAPERED DOWNWARD AND OUTWARD AND TERMINATING AT ITS LOWER END ABOVE THE PERIPHERAL EDGE OF THE BOTTOM SECTION WITH SAID LOWER END POSITIONED TO EXTEND OUTWARD OF THE FRONT WALL OF THE COVER SECTION WHEN THE LATTER IS CLOSED OVER THE BOTTOM SECTION, (G) THE FRONT WALL OF THE COVER SECTION BEING RESILIENTLY DEFLECTABLE AND PROVIDED WITH A LATCH KEEPER OPENING ALIGNED WITH THE OUTER WALL OF EACH LATCH POST, THE BOTTOM EDGE OF SAID OPENING BEING SPACED UPWARDLY FROM THE PERIPHERAL EDGE OF THE COVER SECTION A DISTANCE NOT EXCEEDING THE VERTICAL DISTANCE BETWEEN THE LOWER END OF THE OUTER WALL OF THE LATCH POST AND THE PERIPHERAL EDGE OF THE BOTTOM SECTION, (H) WHEREBY UPON CLOSING THE COVER SECTION OVER THE BOTTOM SECTION THE PORTION OF THE COVER SECTION BELOW THE LATCH KEEPER OPENING ENGAGES UNDER THE LOWER END OF THE OUTER WALL OF THE LATCH POST. 